Monday’s lesson, mentions circumcision, and if the Gentiles ever needed to be circumcised. Some have wondered why in the world God wanted the penis involved in a sign of loyalty. Some atheists have made fun of Christianity and the Bible over this topic. What we need to understand is, the penis was the part of … Continue reading –>
1. Paul’s wish. Our lesson begins with this stunning question, after extolling the value of harmony in God’s church: Should unity be preserved at the cost of truth? Do we sometimes debate issues on the basis of who agrees with us (or them) rather than on the merits of a given position? 2. The importance … Continue reading –>
Our Sabbath afternoon introduction to this weeks’ lesson has: Hymn 518, “Standing on the Promises”, and Hymn 610, “Stand Like the Brave” ringing in my ears. To these we may add: Hymn 618, “Stand Up! Stand Up for Jesus!”. Martin Luther stood firm and as Ellen White says “his unwavering firmness was the means of … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: The early church was in danger of losing its understanding of the gospel by depending on Jewish traditions that led them away from faith in Christ’s work. Lesson 3, July 15, 2017 1. Have a volunteer read I Corinthians 1:10-13. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Paul opens his letter to the Galatians with reference to God’s gifts of grace and fought against teachings of error in Galatia.. Lesson 2, July 8, 2017 1. Have a volunteer read 2 Peter 3:15,16. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is. … Continue reading –>
Do I please men? What puzzling question does Paul pose to the Galatians in the first chapter of his epistle to them? Do you agree with Paul that it is indeed a puzzle to determine whether to seek to please God or men? How did that puzzle fit into the apostle’s ministry to the believers … Continue reading –>
“Gospel” is the word that is frequently used for this weeks’ lesson studies. There are two hymns in the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal that reflect on this word: Hymn 368, “Watchman, Blow the Gospel Trumpet” and Hymn 378, “Go, Preach My Gospel”. These two hymns could end up being the theme hymns for this quarters lesson … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Soul was zealous against the church, but was transformed to develop a strong ministry to the Gentiles.. Lesson 1, July 1, 2017 1. Have a volunteer read Acts 6:11-14. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is. b. How can we stand up … Continue reading –>
The Gospel in Galatians. According to the introduction to this 12-week series on the apostle Paul, the teaching threatening the early church was the false teaching that we are saved by faith and works. Wait a minute. Don’t our works have a key role to play in our salvation? What about the statement by the … Continue reading –>
Saul of Tarsus was fighting for his faith, although misguided by his spiritual blindness (Tuesday’s lesson study) until, “finally on his way to Damascus, through a miraculous encounter with the risen Jesus, Saul chose to fight no longer” (Monday’s lesson study). Instead he went on to become Paul and now he did as in Hymn … Continue reading –>
