Read for This Week’s Study: John 14:1-3, Isa. 11:1-10, Rev. 21:1-5, 1 Thess. 4:13-18, Rev. 22:1-5, Isa. 35:4-10. Memory Text: “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13, NKJV). One of the greatest promises of the Bible is Jesus’ promise to come again. Without it, we have nothing, because our … Continue reading –>
By Daniel Gatan My wife has stopped attending the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but I have not given up hope. Here’s why. During repressive Communist times, a woman in my home country, Romania, learned about the Adventist Church and began to attend Sabbath services regularly. This infuriated her husband. “Where are you going at the same … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Ellen G. White, “Individual Responsibility and Christian Unity”, pages 485-505, in Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers; “Unity in Diversity”, pages 483-485, and “Church Discipline”, pages 498-503, in Gospel Workers. Read the articles “Church”, pages 707-710, and “Church Organization”, pages 712-714, in The Ellen G. White Encyclopedia. “Principles of good leadership apply in all forms of society, including the church. … Continue reading –>
As we have seen throughout this quarter (and which bears repeating), as a church we have been organized and unified for mission, for outreach. We are not just a social club for like-minded people to get together and affirm each other in what we believe (though that can be important, as well). We have been … Continue reading –>
One of the main issues of church organization is to deal with discipline. How discipline helps to preserve church unity is sometimes a touchy subject and easily may be misunderstood. But from a biblical perspective, church discipline centers on two important areas: preserving purity of doctrine and preserving purity of church life and practice. As … Continue reading –>
Read 2 Timothy 2:15 and Titus 1:9. According to Paul’s counsels to Timothy and Titus, what crucial tasks are the responsibility of a faithful church leader and elder? Notice how much emphasis Paul puts on keeping the doctrines and teachings pure. This is crucial for unity, especially because one could argue that, more than anything else, our teachings … Continue reading –>
During His ministry with His disciples, Jesus repeatedly experienced moments when He probably felt exasperated by the envy for power they seemed to have. The apostles appeared to be anxious to become powerful leaders of Jesus’ kingdom (Mark 9:33-34; Luke 9:46). Even as the disciples were eating the Last Supper together, these feelings of domination and supremacy … Continue reading –>
While studying church organization and unity, this week, It is worthwhile for all of us to think about the role of government and our individual responsibility – not just secular government but church government as well. Former United States President Richard Nixon defended himself in the Watergate scandal, by telling one of the world’s most celebrated … Continue reading –>
As we have seen already in an earlier lesson, in the New Testament the church is represented by the metaphor of body. The church is the body of Christ. This metaphor alludes to several aspects of the church and the relation between Christ and His people. As the body of Christ, the church depends on … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Eph. 5:23-27; Matt. 20:25-28; Titus 1:9; Matt. 16:19; Gal. 6:1-2; Matt. 28:18-20. Memory Text: “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave” (Matthew 20:26-27, NKJV). As Seventh-day Adventists, we are Protestant Christians … Continue reading –>
