John 14:1-3 is the best-known promise of Jesus’ second coming. What does this promise tell you about the kind of life the redeemed will live on the new earth? Early Christians considered Christ’s return the “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13, NKJV). They expected all the prophecies and promises of Scripture to be fulfilled at the Second Advent, … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: John 14:1-3, Isa. 11:1-10, Rev. 21:1-5, 1 Thess. 4:13-18, Rev. 22:1-5, Isa. 35:4-10. Memory Text: “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13, NKJV). One of the greatest promises of the Bible is Jesus’ promise to come again. Without it, we have nothing, because our … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “Individual Responsibility and Christian Unity”, pages 485-505, in Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers; “Unity in Diversity”, pages 483-485, and “Church Discipline”, pages 498-503, in Gospel Workers. Read the articles “Church”, pages 707-710, and “Church Organization”, pages 712-714, in The Ellen G. White Encyclopedia. “Principles of good leadership apply in all forms of society, including the church. … Continue reading –>
As we have seen throughout this quarter (and which bears repeating), as a church we have been organized and unified for mission, for outreach. We are not just a social club for like-minded people to get together and affirm each other in what we believe (though that can be important, as well). We have been … Continue reading –>
Hymn 348, “The Church Has One Foundation” sums up the Sabbath afternoon introduction to this week’s lesson study. We ask that: “Jesus, With Thy Church Abide” – Hymn 374 (Sunday), along with Hymn 235, “Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation”. Hymn 462, “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine!” has in verses 3 and 4 gives us the submission to … Continue reading –>
Protestant Christians. Do you remember the first time someone told you that the Seventh-day Adventist church is Protestant? And when you learned there was a link between “protesting” and your church, did you gasp just a bit to realize you belonged to a church known along with others such as Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and Baptists for … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Organization is essential to the mission and unity of the church. Leaders foster unity through serving humbly, upholding truth, disciplining redemptively, and organizing for mission. . December 22, 2018 1. Have a volunteer read 2 Timothy 2:14; Titus 1:9. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in … Continue reading –>
One of the main issues of church organization is to deal with discipline. How discipline helps to preserve church unity is sometimes a touchy subject and easily may be misunderstood. But from a biblical perspective, church discipline centers on two important areas: preserving purity of doctrine and preserving purity of church life and practice. As … Continue reading –>
Read 2 Timothy 2:15 and Titus 1:9. According to Paul’s counsels to Timothy and Titus, what crucial tasks are the responsibility of a faithful church leader and elder? Notice how much emphasis Paul puts on keeping the doctrines and teachings pure. This is crucial for unity, especially because one could argue that, more than anything else, our teachings … Continue reading –>
During His ministry with His disciples, Jesus repeatedly experienced moments when He probably felt exasperated by the envy for power they seemed to have. The apostles appeared to be anxious to become powerful leaders of Jesus’ kingdom (Mark 9:33-34; Luke 9:46). Even as the disciples were eating the Last Supper together, these feelings of domination and supremacy … Continue reading –>
