Jonathan is a quiet boy with a shy smile. He lives in a small village in southern Mexico. One day his neighbor, Tia Maria, invited Jonathan to go to Sabbath School with her. Jonathan had never been to church before. His mother said he could go, so he agreed. On Sabbath Jonathan and Tia Maria … Continue reading –>
Further Study: Read Ellen G. White, “Blessing the Children,” pp. 511-517; “The Temple Cleansed Again,” p. 592, in The Desire of Ages. “Baptism”, pp. 93-95, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6; “Bible Teaching and Study,” pp. 185-186 in Education. “It is still true that children are the most susceptible to the teachings of the … Continue reading –>
Read Mark 10:13-16. How does Christ’s acceptance of children facilitate their acceptance of Him? How should His rebuke of the disciples be understood? What must we take away from this account for ourselves and how we relate to children? Surely Christ’s disciples were well-intentioned, although ignorant. They attempted to protect His valuable time, preserving His … Continue reading –>
Analyze the following texts: Matthew 11:25-26; Matt. 18:1-6, Matt. 18:10-14. What truths, not just about children but about faith in general, can we learn through these stories? Think about just how harsh Jesus’ warning was here. Why should we tremble before it? There exists a unique genuineness within children that Jesus frequently appealed to when … Continue reading –>
Read the following passages: Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 7:24-30, Luke 9:37-43, John 4:46-54. Whose children were restored in these stories? How are these children’s backgrounds similar? What differences might you detect? What lessons can we learn from these texts that can help us today? In all of these stories, one overwhelming similarity is that, in each … Continue reading –>
Had Jesus bypassed childhood, arriving as a full-fledged adult on planet Earth, serious questions might be raised regarding His ability to identify with children. Christ, however, developed as all children must, skipping none of the developmental stages associated with growth and maturity. He understands teenage temptations. He underwent the frailties and insecurities of childhood. Christ … Continue reading –>
Hebrew children enjoyed special treatment when compared with their ancient counterparts from surrounding nations. Child sacrifice as divine appeasement had permeated many cultures. Otherwise, children’s value was often measured by their economic contribution to society. Work productivity, not intrinsic worth, defined their relationship with the adult world. It is painful to say, but some of … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Ps. 127:3-5; Deut. 6:6-7; Luke 2:40-52; Matt. 18:1-6, Matt. 10-14; Mark 10:13-16. Memory Text: Do you hear what these children are saying? they asked him. Yes, replied Jesus, have you never read, From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise? (Matthew 21:16, NIV). In our desire to … Continue reading –>
Rex lay in bed, unable to move his legs. The doctor’s words hung heavy in the air. “You’ll never walk again,” he’d said. What will happen to my family? Rex wondered. Rex knew that his own stubbornness had put him where he was. Two years earlier Rex’s uncle had offered to pay his daughters’ tuition … Continue reading –>
Further Study: Read Ellen G. White, A Reformatory Movement, p. 126, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9; By Personal Efforts and Living Faith, pp. 244, 245, in Medical Ministry. He who does nothing but pray will soon cease to pray, or his prayers will become a formal routine. When men take themselves out of … Continue reading –>
