This was false advertisement. They were presenting a lie that had to be exposed for the good of the church. The lie? That as circumcised and keepers of the ceremonial laws, they were righteous. Their point? In order to be righteous like them, they, the Gentile converts, must be circumcised and keep the laws of … Continue reading –>
Who controls the church? That is a question that is as relevant today as it was during the time of the early church. This week as we discuss The Controversy, in addition to examining what, we will also look at why. Why was there a controversy that was threatening to split the early church? In … Continue reading –>
I’ve been a member of a wide variety of churches over the years. Everything from one-room country churches to an urban megachurch. Although our core beliefs were the same, each church was unique. Churches over time take on an identity of their own. Some churches are classified as liberal, others conservative. Some churches are seen … Continue reading –>
I’m writing this week’s post from Rome, the ancient city whose past intersects with the life of Paul. It was from Rome that Paul penned the letter to the church in Galatia. Unlike myself and my wife, Paul was not in Rome by his own choice. His presence there was due to the conflicts he … Continue reading –>
He was an innocent man condemned to die. To ensure his execution, on his last night of life he was locked deep within prison walls, chained between two guards. His crime? He was an ardent disciple of Christ. His name? Peter. His reaction to his impending death the next morning? He was sleeping like a … Continue reading –>
Everyone wants to succeed. Some do – some don’t. Teachers may define success by the numbers of attendees, or by getting through the entire lesson, or by avoiding any glaring blunders. The definitions of success vary from teacher to teacher. All of us should spend some time reflecting on how well we did or didn’t … Continue reading –>
Every week, in Sabbath school classes across the world, someone will be talking. It’s estimated that the normal pace for English speaking averages between 120 to 160 words per minute. That translates to 5400 – 7200 words for the typical 45 minute Sabbath school class. How many of those words are being spoken by you, … Continue reading –>
“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,” Job 38:1 This one verse from our lesson Out of the Whirlwind is so full of instruction that time will not allow for anything beyond that. The story of Job and his unexplained suffering is one we can all relate to on some level. While we may not … Continue reading –>
Running and crawling through waves of artillery, mortar, grenade and rifle fire, a young man risked his life to save his wounded comrades. Not just one time, but scores of times. Putting his own safety aside, he made his way through hellacious gunfire and mortar shelling to rescue the dying. He was a man on … 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 –>
