Read Genesis 18:11, Genesis 30:1, 1 Samuel 1:1-8, and Luke 1:7. What do these people have in common? How did God answer their longings? Children are a blessing. But for some reason God doesn’t always bless everyone with children. Some hope and pray for a family, and God graciously grants their request, sometimes quite miraculously, as in the case … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Gen. 18:11; Jer. 31:25; Matt. 11:28; Psalm 127:1-5; Prov. 22:6; 1 Sam. 3:10-14; Phil. 3:13. Memory Text: “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3, NKJV). Births are such a common, normal occurrence that often we don’t always fully appreciate the wonder that they are. Imagine what Eve … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “A Sacred Circle”, pages 77-180, in The Adventist Home; Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, pages 236-238. Unity—the first work. “The first work of Christians is to be united in the family. … “The more closely the members of a family are united in their work in the home, the more uplifting and helpful will … Continue reading –>
Ultimately, family cohesion and unity rest on the commitment of family members, beginning with the commitment of the marital partners, to care for one another. Sadly, Bible history is strewn with examples of failed promises, broken trust, and lack of commitment where it should have been present. Scripture also has stirring examples of ordinary people … Continue reading –>
Monday’s section of this week’s lesson reads, Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Try placing your name where the word “love” appears. How well does it fit? Ask Jesus to bring these qualities of love into your life by His Spirit. What changes might the Spirit prompt you to make in order to reach this Christian ideal? … Continue reading –>
How He longs for loving unity. “That they all may be one, as you, Father are in me and I in You.” Precious are those words in John 17 sent to us by Jesus. Can you sense in them the intense desire by Jesus for harmony and love shared by all members of human families? … Continue reading –>
What counsel does Paul have regarding humility and service in relationships? Eph. 5:21. How do you think this attitude contributes to unity in the church? Why is it so important at home? Eph. 5:22-6:9. The word “submit” (Eph. 5:21) means to place oneself humbly before another person on the basis of voluntary choice. This unique principle began with Christ (Matt. 20:26-28; John … Continue reading –>
The study this week reveals, yet again, the love God proclaims for each family – Hymn 650, “Our Father, by Whose Name” and the unity that is to abide in each family. Hymn 237, “In the Cross of Christ I Glory” helps to sum up the study on Sunday. We find in reading Ephesians 2:19-22 on Sunday that “Christ … Continue reading –>
“If pride and selfishness were laid aside, five minutes would remove most difficulties”. – Ellen G. White, Early Writings, p. 119. As human beings, our natures have been corrupted by sin. And, perhaps, the greatest example of that corruption is the curse of selfishness. We seem to be born selfish; we can see this reality in … Continue reading –>
“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else” (1 Thess. 3:12, NIV). Jesus prayed to His Father that His followers would “be one as we are one” (John 17:22, NIV). Summarize what Jesus was saying here, focusing specifically on the role of love needed in order to achieve this oneness. … Continue reading –>
