Even with the best motivations and intentions, and believing that we are on the side of God and goodness, working for the Lord can be difficult and discouraging. The sadness and pain of our world are real. This is one reason we need a church community. Jesus modeled this kind of supportive community with His … Continue reading –>
At the beginning of the book of Job, God points to Job and his faithfulness to Him as a demonstration of the goodness of God’s ways and His dealings with fallen humanity (see Job 1:8). It is remarkable that God allows His reputation to hang on how His people live their lives on this earth. But Paul … Continue reading –>
Church discussions sometimes seem to get stuck on the apparent need to choose between a focus on social work or gospel work, either charity or witnessing, either justice or evangelism. But when we better understand each of these concepts and observe the ministry of Jesus, the difference breaks down, and we realize that preaching the … Continue reading –>
The standard definition of the remnant people identified in Bible prophecy is found in Revelation 12:17: those “who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (NKJV, see also Rev. 14:12). In the Bible’s story, these features mark out God’s people in the later stages of earth’s history. But, also in the Bible stories, … Continue reading –>
We have seen in the early chapters of Acts how the first Christian believers established a different kind of community, caring for those in need among them, and together reaching out to those outside the community, offering them help where needed and inviting them to join in with what God was doing among them. Adding … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: 2 Cor. 2:14-16, Exod. 32:1-14, 1 Pet. 2:12, Phil. 2:15, Eph. 2:19, Heb. 10:23-25. Memory Text: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” (Hebrews 10:23-24, NKJV). In seeking to fulfil the Christian mission, … Continue reading –>
U.S. Biker Embraces Sabbath By Andrew McChesney, Adventist Mission The invitation startled Richard Smith as he stopped at a senior center to collect meals to deliver on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle to retirees in the U.S. state of West Virginia. “Would you like to go to the Seventh-day Adventist church with me?” asked Ruth, who also … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “A Higher Experience”, pages 503-516, in The Ministry of Healing; “Duty to the Unfortunate”; and “Man’s Duty to His Fellow Men”, pages 511-526, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3; “Doing for Christ”, pages 24-37, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2. “Search heaven and earth, and there is no truth revealed more powerful than … Continue reading –>
Solomon wrote that there is “a time to be silent and a time to speak” (Eccl. 3:7, NIV). He was right, and finding that balance is not simple for any of us. However, when it comes to speaking for the oppressed and being a voice for the voiceless and seeking to overcome evil with good, is … Continue reading –>
Read Matthew 5:9. In the kind of world we live in, how do we do what Jesus says here? Ultimately, how successful can we be? See Mark 13:7. Violent conflict is a significant cause of suffering. Included in the costs of war are the direct victims and shattered lives, the attention and resources devoted to military machinery … Continue reading –>
