I come from an influential family in central India and grew up worshipping stone gods. My parents wanted the best education for me, so they enrolled me in an Adventist secondary school. We didn’t know what “Adventist” meant then. I liked the school and made friends quickly. One friend, Amith, invited me to his home … Continue reading –>
Read Matthew 18:15-17. What three steps does Jesus give us to help us to resolve conflicts when we are wronged by another church member? How are we to apply these words in our contemporary situations? Jesus’ desire in giving the counsel of Matthew 18 is to keep conflict in as small a group as possible. His … Continue reading –>
What is forgiveness? Does forgiveness justify the behavior of someone who has horribly wronged us? Is my forgiveness dependent on the offender’s repentance? What if the one with whom I am upset with does not deserve my forgiveness? How do the following passages help us to understand the biblical nature of forgiveness?Rom. 5:8-11; Luke 23:31-34; 2 Cor. 5:20-21;Eph. … Continue reading –>
As we saw in an earlier lesson, the church at Corinth had deep problems. What principles does Paul outline in 1 Corinthians 3:5-11, 12:1-11, and 2 Corinthians 10:12-15 for healing and restoration, all of which are so vital to revival and reformation? In these passages, the apostle outlines critical principles of church unity. He points out that Jesus uses different … Continue reading –>
While he was imprisoned in Rome, Paul met a runaway slave named Onesimus who had fled from Colossae to Rome. Paul personally knew Onesimus’ master. The Epistle of Philemon is Paul’s personal appeal to his friend regarding a restored relationship with the runaway slave. Relationships mattered to Paul. The apostle knew that fractured relationships are … Continue reading –>
Paul and Barnabas worked together in witnessing for Jesus. But they had some strife between them (Acts 15:36-39). Paul could not trust one as fearful as John Mark. The potential dangers of preaching the gospel had caused John Mark at one point to desert Paul and Barnabas and return home. “This desertion caused Paul to judge … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: 2 Tim. 4:11, Philem. 1:1-25, 2 Cor. 10:12-15, Rom. 5:8-11,Matt. 18:15-17. Memory Text: “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10, NKJV). Even after Pentecost, the relationship between believers was at … Continue reading –>
“Many profess to be on the Lord’s side, but they are not; the weight of all their actions is on Satan’s side. By what means shall we determine whose side we are on? Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Upon whom do we love to converse? Who has our warmest affections and … Continue reading –>
Twelve-year-old Yvette walked along the dusty path, carefully balancing the plastic water jug on her head. She didn’t want to spill even a drop of water. She passed children walking toward a nearby school. They were dressed in dark skirts or trousers and white shirts. Yvette’s steps slowed as she thought about the children learning … Continue reading –>
There are numerous images that Jesus uses to describe Himself and His church. One is “light.” He is “the light of the world”(John 8:12). He is also the “true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world” (John 1:9, NKJV). He encourages us to “walk while you have the light” and “believe in … Continue reading –>
