Key Thought: Jesus demonstrated the work of the Prophets : good news for the poor, freedom for the oppressed, healing for the broken-hearted. August 17, 2019 1. Have a volunteer read Luke 4:16-21. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is. Why do you think Jesus … Continue reading –>
Whether it was the prescribed reading for the day or whether Jesus intentionally found the relevant verses (Isa. 61:1-2) in the scroll He was given to read, it was no coincidence these verses were the text for His first public sermon. Neither is it a coincidence that the story of Jesus’ short sermon in Luke 4:16-21—“Today this scripture … Continue reading –>
Imagine the scene: Mary had received a message from the angel Gabriel just a few days earlier. He had told her that she was to be the mother of Jesus, the Son of the Most High. She has not yet told anyone but goes to visit Elizabeth, her older relative, who also is expecting a … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Luke 1:46-55, Luke 4:16-21, Luke 7:18-23, Matt. 12:15-21, Matt. 21:12-16, Mark 11:15-19, Isa. 53:3-6. Memory Text: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Isaiah 58—A Divine Prescription”, pages 29-34, in Welfare Ministry; “Woes on the Pharisees”, pages 610-620, in The Desire of Ages. “In urging the value of practical godliness, the prophet was only repeating the counsel given Israel centuries before … From age to age these counsels were repeated by the servants of Jehovah to … Continue reading –>
I want no more of your pious meetings. Does the above phrase sound like a rebellious teenager? How about this? I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals. They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them! You may think that sounds like an even more rebellious teen, but fact is that’s … Continue reading –>
When Jesus was confronted by some of the religious leaders of His day who criticized Him for eating with “sinners”, He quoted the prophet Hosea, telling them to go back to their books and discover what God really meant when He said, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Matt. 9:13, NIV, quoting Hos. 6:6). As we will see, … Continue reading –>
In their explanation of the relationship between worship and justice, there is another step urged by the prophets: that an active concern for relieving the poor and oppressed and helping those in need is an important part of worship itself. Isaiah 58 is one chapter that makes this link obvious. Read Isa. 58:1-14. What has gone wrong … Continue reading –>
During the better times of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, the people would return to the temple and the worship of God, although even then, their worship was often mixed with inroads from idolatry and the religions of the surrounding nations. But according to the prophets, even their best attempts at religion were not … Continue reading –>
Hymn 72, “Creator of the Stars of Night” reflects well on the title of this week’s study, “Worship the Creator”. Other hymns that use the name of Maker, rather than Creator, are: Hymn 15, “My Maker and My King”, Hymn 37, “O Sing, My Soul, Your Maker’s Praise”, Hymn 57, “Now All the Woods Are Sleeping”, … Continue reading –>
