The fall of our first parents plunged the world into sin, evil, and death. People might disagree on the immediate causes, or who’s at fault, but who can deny the reality of the turmoil, violence, upheaval, and conflict that afflict us all here? We talk about a cosmic controversy, a cosmic conflict; and that’s fine and true. But whatever … Continue reading –>
Hold on! Let’s Go! “The Cosmic Controversy” is the title for our lessons for the second quarter this year. Have you ever wondered how the controversy really got started? Since you and I weren’t around back then and since our world seems inexorably buried in war, confusion, and evil, is it helpful for us to know how … Continue reading –>
Though we cannot explain why evil arose (since no justification for it exists), Scripture reveals that it began in the heart of Lucifer in heaven. Besides the fascinating insights that we get from the writings of Ellen G. White (see, for instance, the chapter “The Origin of Evil” in The Great Controversy), Scripture doesn’t tell us much more about … Continue reading –>
Welcome to the second quarter of lessons for 2018. We will commence this quarter with Good News. Because of “what Jesus did on the cross, all of us can share in ‘that’ (victory of Christ over Satan) victory”: Hymn 608, “Faith Is The Victory” “Finally….God calls us to faith and obedience”: Hymn 590, “Trust and … Continue reading –>
If the cosmic controversy forms the background biblical worldview, this leads to a number of questions. An important one is, How did it all get started? Because a loving God created the universe, it’s reasonable to assume that evil, violence, and conflict were certainly not built into the creation from the beginning. The controversy must have arisen … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Ezek. 28:1-2, Ezek. 28:11-17; Gen. 3:1-7; Rev. 12:1-17; Rom. 8:31-39; Rev. 14:12. Memory Text: “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:17, NKJV). The cosmic controversy, sometimes called “the great controversy”, … Continue reading –>
Christ and the End of Days In the final hours of Jesus’ earthly sojourn in human flesh, He spoke these words of comfort to the disciples: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: “Christ came to this world to reveal the love of God. His followers are to continue the work which He began. Let us strive to help and strengthen one another. Seeking the good of others is the way in which true happiness can be found. Man does not work against his own interest by … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: The results of stewardship depend upon God. The human element is the variable. To improve the results, we must improve our stewardship. Lesson 13, March 31, 2018 1. Have a volunteer read 2 Timothy 3:1-8. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is. … Continue reading –>
We are strangers and pilgrims on earth, with heaven – perfect, beautiful, and peaceful – as our ultimate destination (Heb. 11:13-14). Until then, we have to live our existence here. The Christian worldview, especially as revealed in the great controversy, allows for no neutral parties now. We either live for God or for the enemy. “He that … Continue reading –>
