Read Ecclesiastes 8:14. In what ways do you see the stark and powerful reality of what is written here? While suffering, oppression, and tragedy are hard enough to bear in their own right, the injury or insult is harder still if it appears to be meaningless or unnoticed. The possible meaninglessness of sorrow is heavier than … Continue reading –>
As I turned the page to look at the Sabbath afternoon lesson study, looking at the new title, the first hymn that sprang to mind was Hymn 214, “We Have This Hope”. The memory verse is in Hymn 375, “Work, for the Night Is Coming”. Sunday’s title of “How Long, O Lord?” is sung in … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Our great hope is the return of Jesus to bring an end of evil, to heal injustice, and create a new world. This hope gives ourage to our service for others as we await His return. September 14, 2019 1. Have a volunteer read Luke 18:1-8. Ask class members to share a thought … Continue reading –>
Many of us in the church still struggle with sin and addictive behavior. We may find it hard to believe that Jesus can give us total freedom from those addictions here on earth. I find much comfort knowing that, when I look at my own weaknesses and past failures, God can still fill me with … Continue reading –>
The Christian hope in the second coming of Jesus is not just about looking forward to a bright future. For the early Christians, the bodily resurrection of Jesus gave the promise of His return a solid reality. If He could come back from the dead—which they had witnessed for themselves—He would surely come back to … Continue reading –>
Religion has often been criticized for a tendency to draw believers away from life here and now toward some better afterlife. The criticism is that the focus on another realm becomes a form of sanctified escapism and renders the believer of less benefit to the world and to society. At times, believers have left themselves … Continue reading –>
Throughout the Bible’s story, there is a repeated call from God’s people—particularly those experiencing slavery, exile, oppression, poverty, or other injustice or tragedy—for God to intervene. The slaves in Egypt, the Israelites in Babylon, and many others called out to God to see and hear their suffering and to right these wrongs. And the Bible … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Luke 18:1-8; Matthew 24:1-25:46; 1 Cor. 15:12-19; Eccles. 8:14; Eccles. 12:13-14; Rev. 21:1-5; Rev. 22:1-5. Memory Text: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58, NKJV). Jesus announced the kingdom of God as a present reality that … Continue reading –>
Half Loaf of Bread By Andrew McChesney, Adventist Mission Maya approached Valentina with a loaf of white bread after the worship service. “Valya, please take this”, she said, holding out the loaf. Valentina, 40, looked at the bread hungrily. She hadn’t eaten a crumb in more than six months. It was impossible to find bread … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “God With Us”, pages 19-26, The Desire of Ages ; “Saved to Serve”, pages 95-107, in The Ministry of Healing. “God claims the whole earth as His vineyard. Though now in the hands of the usurper, it belongs to God. By redemption no less than by creation it is His. For the world Christ’s sacrifice … Continue reading –>
The transforming invitation and appeal of the gospel “to every nation, tribe, language and people” (Rev. 14:6, NIV) has continued throughout Christian history. However, Revelation describes a renewed proclamation of this message—the good news about Jesus and all that entails—at the end of time. Read Revelation 14:6-7. How is the common understanding of the gospel—most commonly summarized by John … Continue reading –>
By His ministry and His teaching, Jesus urged a radical inclusiveness. All who sought His attention with honest motives—whether women with bad reputations, tax collectors, lepers, Samaritans, Roman centurions, religious leaders, or children—He welcomed with genuine warmth and care. As the early church was to discover in transformative ways, this included the offer of the … Continue reading –>
