Read Matthew 4:1-3. What is happening, and why? How do we see the great controversy being played out here? “When Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted, He was led by the Spirit of God. He did not invite temptation. He went to the wilderness to be alone, to contemplate His mission and … Continue reading –>
The appearance of John the Baptist must have sent ripples of excitement throughout the region. Here was someone who looked like the prophet Elijah (Matt. 3:4, 2 Kings 1:8). He was the first prophetic voice the people had heard in 400 years. God had never been silent for so long before. Now He was speaking … Continue reading –>
Read Matthew 1:20-23. What is the significance of the name given to Jesus: “Emmanuel?” Why did Jesus come to this earth to be “with us?” First, He came to restore the dominion that Adam lost (Rom. 5:12, 15). We catch a glimpse of the royal aspect of Jesus (having dominion) when He inspired the crowds (5,000 … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Matt. 1:20-23, John 9:39, Matt. 3:7-12, Matt. 4:1-10, Deut. 34:1-4, Rev. 21:10. Memory Text: “‘For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost’” (Luke 19:10, NKJV) . “When Satan heard that enmity should exist between himself and the woman, and between his seed … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “The Controversy Continues” 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 outline from the HopeTV Sabbath School … Continue reading –>
No question, the Word of God, as we have studied this week, time and again shows God’s faithfulness to His people. Of course, in many cases, at the time things were happening, that faithfulness wasn’t always obvious or apparent. In the accounts we looked at, we were able to see the beginning to the end; … Continue reading –>
The story of Nehemiah also comes at a time when the nation of Israel no longer existed as a political entity but as a remnant scattered across foreign lands. God, though, as always, would be faithful to His covenant promises, even when the people failed to live up to their end of the covenant. Read … Continue reading –>
It’s so hard for us today (as no doubt it has been for people from various cultures through the centuries) to understand the customs and tradition of the ancient Persian Empire, where the story of Esther unfolds. One thing is certain, though: the Lord had used that empire in the process of fulfilling the covenant … Continue reading –>
Hezekiah was king of Judah when the new superpower, Assyria, conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and scattered its inhabitants across Mesopotamia (2 Kings 18:9-12) . “That which He could no longer do through them in the land of their fathers He would seek to accomplish by scattering them among the heathen. His plan for … Continue reading –>
Life is complicated, and that’s because, as humans, we are complicated. Imagine-creatures made in the image of God, the Creator of the universe, who then corrupt themselves. No wonder that our potential both for good and for evil can reach remarkable levels. And it isn’t just that some people attain great levels of “goodness” while … Continue reading –>
