Read Acts 17:11; and John 5:39, John 5:46-47; John 8:31-32. What is a distinguishing mark of a true disciple of Christ? Why is the Bible so indispensable in pointing us to Christ and in helping us to follow Him faithfully? The primary means by which the Holy Spirit unites us with Christ is through the … Continue reading –>
Read 1 Corinthians 12:13. How does baptism unite us with Christ and with the Spirit? It is the Holy Spirit who unites us into one body of believers. The public entrance into Christ’s spiritual kingdom is through baptism. We are baptized into a specific church body. Thus, baptism has a distinct communal dimension and important … Continue reading –>
The Holy Spirit unites us in manifold ways. We would not exist as a church if the Holy Spirit would not first unite us with Christ. Christ is the head of the church (see Eph. 1:22-23; Eph. 5:23). Through the Holy Spirit, we are effectually united to Christ Himself. Being united with Christ is the … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Eph. 1:22-23; 1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 6:3-7; Acts 17:11; Eph. 4:5-6; Acts 2:4-11. Memory Text: “Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, … Continue reading –>
Read Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 511-517, 593-602. Some have asked, “Why don’t we see the same kind of miracles, such as the miraculous healings, today that were seen in Bible times?” First, we do hear stories about miracles. And surely some people have seen them firsthand, too. Second, when reading the Bible, … Continue reading –>
Read 1 Corinthians 12:10, 1 Corinthains 14:29 and 1 John 4:1-3. Why is the gift of discernment important? While there are genuine spiritual gifts present in the church, the Bible also warns us not to believe every spirit but rather to test the spirits by their conformity to Scripture, their consistency, and whether they exalt … Continue reading –>
Read 1 Corinthians 14:1 and compare the different lists in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 1 Corinthians 12:27-31; Romans 12:3-8; and Ephesians 4:11-12. Were those gifts given only to the New Testament believers? Why are the gifts available today? There are some Christians who think that the spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament were restricted to … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “The Holy Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson … Continue reading –>
Read Romans 12:3-8 and Ephesians 4:8-12. What is the purpose of the spiritual gifts that God gives us? The spiritual gifts were clearly given for service, not for our sanctification. They are not miraculous tricks that satisfy our curiosity, nor are they given as an antidote to boredom. Often we think about the gifts of … Continue reading –>
It is not we who decide what gifts to have. The Greek word for the gifts of the Spirit is charismata-they are gifts of grace, distributed and given by God Himself. We do not earn them by our status, our position, our honor, our education, or our spiritual performance. They are gifts, freely given out … Continue reading –>
