“ ‘He also shall be my salvation, for a hypocrite could not come before Him’ ” (Job 13:16, NKJV). Seven days of silence. Have you ever kept quiet about some issue in order to stay out of trouble with others at work or in the church? If so, did it work? Did Job follow that procedure? … Continue reading –>
Pat Answers. As a Sabbath School teacher, were you ever put off–although of course nobody noticed–by pat answers? You might have begun a discussion on the essence of sin, for example, by asking the question, “What is sin?” and almost like a record player, someone would speak up, “Sin is transgression of the law.” Silence fell. … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Innocent suffering is never innocent. It is a part of a sin-filled world. However, faith helps us look beyond the suffering toward Divine restoration. Sabbath School Lesson 8 for November 19, 2016 1. Have a volunteer read Job 10:15-20. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point … Continue reading –>
We often don’t know what we are talking about because our opinions are built around incomplete knowledge of the facts. This week’s lesson on Retributive Punishment serves as a prime example. Although they expressed themselves with care and genuine concern, the friends of Job did not know what they were talking about. Their summation of the … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Even though Job’s friends saw his troubles as a result of a cause, Job was more concerned with asking the important question. Lesson 7 for November 12, 2016 1. Have a volunteer read Job 11:7-10. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is. … Continue reading –>
Retribution. [Lesson 7 for Nov 12, 2016] We don’t often see the word “retribution” presented as the adjective, “retributive,” do we? What is retribution? Is punishment-bearing retribution stronger than simply suffering from the results of sin? Why doesn’t God choose retribution as punishment for all of our sins? Or does He? First Accusations from Eliphaz, … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Even though Job’s friends saw his troubles as a result of a cause, Job was more concerned with asking the important question. Lesson for November 5, 2016 1. Have a volunteer read Job 2:11-13. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is. b. … Continue reading –>
The Big Questions. [Lesson #6 November 5, 2016] Now as we listen to Eliphaz, how does the story of Job broaden? How would you feel if you were suffering from a disease or injury only to have a “friend” tell you it was all your fault? Does Eliphaz seem to be reminding Job that being human means taking the … Continue reading –>
Words matter. That’s the takeaway I received for this week’s lesson on The Curse Causeless. This week our attention is on the words of Job’s friend Eliphaz. He was one of the three, who in their concern and respect for Job, came to see him after his life was turned upside down. I imagine it … Continue reading –>
“42,773” That’s the number of people who commit suicide each year in the United States where suicide is the 10th leading cause of death [1]. Depression, which has many causes, may not lead to suicide but it wears down the life forces of many. It is the leading cause of disability in the US among … Continue reading –>
