Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Scriptures a Safeguard”, pages 593-602, in The Great Controversy. Tradition, experience, culture, reason, and the Bible are all present in our reflection on the Word of God. The decisive question is: Which of these sources has the final say and the ultimate authority in our theology? It is one thing … Continue reading –>
The Holy Spirit, who has revealed and inspired the content of the Bible to human beings, will never lead us contrary to God’s Word or astray from the Word of God. For Seventh-day Adventists, the Bible has a higher authority than human tradition, experience, reason, or culture. The Bible alone is the norm by which … Continue reading –>
Read 2 Corinthians 10:5-6; Proverbs 1:7; and Proverbs 9:10. Why is obedience to Christ in our thoughts so important? Why is the fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom? God has given us the ability to think and to reason. Every human activity and every theological argument assumes our ability to think and to draw conclusions. We … Continue reading –>
We all belong to and are part of a particular culture or cultures. We are all influenced and shaped by culture, too. None of us escapes it. Indeed, think about how much of the Old Testament is the story of ancient Israel’s being corrupted by the cultures around it. What makes us think that we … Continue reading –>
Read Romans 2:4 and Titus 3:4-5. How do we experience the goodness, forbearance, forgiveness, kindness, and love of God? Why is it important that our faith be not just an abstract, intellectual knowledge, but something we actually experience? At the same time, in what ways can our experiences conflict with the Bible and even mislead us in our … Continue reading –>
Tradition itself is not bad. It gives recurring acts in our daily life a certain routine and structure. It can help us to stay connected with our roots. Hence, it is no surprise that tradition also plays an important part in religion. But there are also some dangers connected with tradition. What does Mark 7:1-13 teach us … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Mark 7:1-13; Rom. 2:4; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 Cor. 10:5-6; John 5:46-47; John 7:38. Memory Text: “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20, NKJV). There is no Christian church that does not use Scripture to support … Continue reading –>
Potluck Wins Hearts By Andrew McChesney, Adventist Mission On Sabbaths, vacationers flocked to the Seventh-day Adventist church in Russia’s popular Black Sea resort city of Gelendzhek. The visitors from Siberia, the Ural Mountains, and other far-flung Russian regions reminded the pastor, Andrey Prokopev, of something special he had learned while studying at Advanced International Institute … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “As a Child”, pages 68-74, and “The Temptation”, pages 114-123 in The Desire of Ages. “Men consider themselves wiser than the word of God, wiser even than God; and instead of planting their feet on the immovable foundation, and bringing everything to the test of God’s word, they test that word by their … Continue reading –>
The New Testament writers approach the Bible the same way that Jesus does. In matters of doctrine, ethics, and prophetic fulfillment, the Old Testament for them was the authoritative Word of God. We find nothing, anywhere, in what these men say or do that challenges either the authority or authenticity of any part of the … Continue reading –>
