Have you ever been “compelled” to do something? Have you ever “compelled” anybody else do to anything? Does the word “compel” have positive or negative connotations to you? It’s an important question because we are told in the Matthew 14 parable of the wedding feast, “…, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel … Continue reading –>
Are Christians still expected to keep the law? Can those who refuse to observe God’s law be saved? Find out what the Sabbath School author has to say on this week’s edition of “Ask the Author.” [weaver_vimeo http://vimeo.com/94554962#t=0m30s autoplay=0 loop=0 portrait=1 start=0:10] You can view the same video on YouTube if you prefer. (12)
Continue reading -->Would Jesus hang out with homosexuals? Is there a way we can know?1 We know that Jesus associated with the outcasts of his day. Luke 15:1-2 is very clear that he not only associated with tax collectors and sinners, he ate with them. He went to their dinner parties (Matt 11: 19) to such an … Continue reading –>
Read Isaiah 53:4, Matthew 8:17, and John 9:1-3. In what way are we to understand these texts? What questions do they raise? What hope do they offer us? In antiquity, sickness was considered the result of sinful actions. (And even today, who hasn’t at times-even if only for a moment-wondered if illness, either their own … Continue reading –>
I love a good story, don’t you? Storytelling is a distinctly human trait. No matter how proficiently animals like dolphins, apes and some birds can communicate with us, they don’t care about stories. People, on the other hand, seem to be born craving stories. Think about the child at bedtime: “One more story, Mommy! Just … Continue reading –>
While living in Texas I was taking a Texas history class at a community college. In writing a paper for class, I mentioned a political figure who was assassinated. I contrasted the pomp and circumstance of his funeral with the plain funeral of the man who killed him and was killed shortly after. I pointed … Continue reading –>
During this time of year much of the world turns its attention to the Bible account of the first Advent of Christ. You can read about it in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. Just as the angels of heaven brought “good news” to the shepherds, this is a good time for us to share the good news … Continue reading –>
Martin Pröbstle has another 8-minute introduction to this week’s lesson on Vimeo and on Youtube. If you’ve not seen the previous ones, we suggest you review them now at Sanctuary Lessons on Vimeo or on The Youtube Bogichannel (also in German). It will be a great review for a subject which we, as a church, … Continue reading –>
I’ve been doing some thinking about how things might look if more Christians were open to being filled and used by the Holy Spirit. Oh, I know, most of us believe that we are open and ready, maybe already being used by Him. And we’re probably right on some level, but not on a Moses-on-the-mountain, … Continue reading –>
There is a trick question I love to ask people. What was the tallest mountain in the world before Mount Everest was discovered? I get all kinds of answers, like “Mount McKinley “and so forth, but you know what the answer is? Mount Everest! Mount Everest was the tallest mountain in the world (Now I … Continue reading –>
