“ ‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy’ ” (Prov. 31:8-9, NIV). How do we take the principles here and apply them for today? So far this week we have noted that … Continue reading –>
Seventh-day Adventists often prefer to think of the gospel in terms of the second coming, the investigative judgement, the mark of the beast, or the nature of Christ, rather than social responsibility. However, reading through Matthew and the other Gospels recently, I find that Jesus was just as concerned about how we treat one another … Continue reading –>
Mercy to the needy. You were probably touched by the story in the lesson about the child who was treated so kindly by a woman that in amazement he said, “Are you God’s wife?” Isn’t that our primary role in today’s world–to let God’s love show in what we do so strongly that people marvel … Continue reading –>
Read Genesis 2:1-3. What does this tell us about the universality of the Sabbath? If we truly observe the Sabbath, we will not remain satisfied with only our own rest (Exod. 23:12), redemption (Deut. 5:12-15), and ultimate restoration in the new earth (Isa. 66:22-23). Indeed, the seventh-day Sabbath tells us that God is the Creator … Continue reading –>
Even in early Israel, social justice was very much a part of God’s laws and His ideal for His people. Social justice is God’s original intention for human society: a world in which basic needs are met, people flourish, and peace reigns. Read the following verses and summarize what they say about mercy and justice, … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Exod. 22:21-23, Exod. 23:2-9, Amos 8:4-7, Isa. 1:13-17, Isa. 58:1-14, Acts 20:35. Memory Text: “He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free, the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD … Continue reading –>
Read Ellen G. White, “Temperance and Dietetics,” pp. 202-206; “Discipline,” pp. 287-290, in Education; “Need for Self-Mastery,” Patriarchs and Prophets 73-74, in Counsels on Diet and Foods; “The Principles of Stewardship,” ibid. 111-113; “Sharing in the Joys of the Redeemed,” ibid. 348-350, in Counsels on Stewardship. It’s so hard from our perspective today, immersed as … Continue reading –>
Through the Fall we as humans have lost so much, including the kind of dominion that our first parents were privileged to have in Eden. Christ came in order to restore to us what we lost. And because of what Christ has done for us, we, too, have been called by God to reach out … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Our responsibility is to reflect God’s image in the way we interact with others and the way we care for His Creation. Restoring Dominion – July 9, 2016 1. Have a volunteer read Isaiah 43:6,7. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is. b. … Continue reading –>
We live in a world obsessed with a quest for dominion. Brutal crimes are perpetrated, schemes of deception are levied against the helpless and the strong take from the weak. Innocent lives are wiped out en masse with little recourse to justice in large part due to a quest for dominion. Church politics, once an … Continue reading –>
