Read for This Week’s Study: Gen. 1:26-28; Gen 2:15-17; 1 John 2:16; John 3:14-15; 2 Cor. 5:21; Matt. 5:13-14. Memory Text: See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples (Isaiah 55:4 NIV). Our world is a mess, and as humans we are the big reason it … Continue reading –>
Japan – Masaaki Toge As a mortician in Japan, I am surrounded by death every day as I prepare bodies for burial and direct funerals. For years I have watched people mourn the death of a loved one and go through the ceremonies their religion requires in order to assure that the deceased have a … Continue reading –>
The angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than … Continue reading –>
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it … Continue reading –>
Read Luke 24:13-49, which tell us about events immediately after Christ’s resurrection. In the various encounters, what does Jesus point to in order to help these people understand what happened to Him, and why is that so important, even for us today in our witness to the world? The resurrection of Jesus should have been … Continue reading –>
Early Sunday morning the women went to the tomb with a single purpose-to complete the burial ritual. Despite the time they had spent with Jesus, they had not truly understood what was to happen. They were certainly not expecting an empty tomb, or to be told by heavenly messengers: He is not here, but is … Continue reading –>
Critics of Christianity will often argue that Jesus knew beforehand that, though He would die, He would be resurrected to life. Thus, they ask, what was the big deal about His death when He knew it would be only temporary? My mother knows that flying in an airplane is safer than traveling by car. She … Continue reading –>
Key Thought : Angelic perfection failed in heaven. Human perfection failed in Eden. All who wish for security in earth or heaven must look to the Lamb of God. [Lesson plan for Crucified and Risen June 22, 2015] 1. Have a volunteer read Luke 22:3. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what … Continue reading –>
For all else that it entails, the Cross is also the great divider of history: the divider between faith and unbelief, between betrayal and acceptance, and between eternal life and death. There is no middle ground for any human being concerning the Cross. In the end, we are on either one side or the other. … Continue reading –>
Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve (Luke 22:3, NIV). No doubt Satan worked hard to get all of the disciples. What was it about Judas, though, that enabled the adversary to succeed so well with him, in contrast to the others? Luke tells how Jesus prayed alone all night in the … Continue reading –>
