I’m going to take the long way around today in discussing the topic of this week’s study, “God or Mammon.” I know I could have gotten there quicker by starting with the Widow with two mites and the Rich Young Ruler. Those two stories are packed with much insight into our relationship with money. Instead … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Stewardship, as we understand it, started with God placing Adam and Eve in a beautiful garden home that they were to care for and manage (Gen. 2:15). In this perfect environment they were to make the garden livable, a task that could not have been that hard. God authorized their new role and taught them … Continue reading –>
We belong to God, both by creation and by redemption. And not only do we belong to God, but all our possessions do as well. We, of ourselves, own nothing other than our own choices. In contrast, a central tenet of worldliness is the idea that we are owners of our possessions. Yet this is … Continue reading –>
In His confrontation with Pharaoh, God declared, “For at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth” (Exod. 9:14, NKJV). What did the Lord mean when He said that “there is … Continue reading –>
The early Christian church did not build dedicated church buildings. They typically met in people’s homes or in public spaces, such as the temple forecourt. They often met in synagogues, because of their close connections with the Jews. The earliest known Christian church (second century), the Dura-Europos church in Syria was essentially a house church. … Continue reading –>
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 NKJV Driving along Bayshore Drive in Tampa, I noticed some huge houses. I wondered what it might be like to have a huge home. Then I asked myself, why would I need a house … Continue reading –>
Debt is not a principle of heaven. But Adam and Eve sinned, and a broken law meant death. Thus, humanity became debtors to divine justice. We were bankrupt, spiritually insolvent from a debt that we could never repay. God’s love for us set in motion the plan of redemption. Jesus became a “surety” for us (Heb. … Continue reading –>
1. Christ the Creator. What a horrible life would have been ours if we had been witnesses to arguing and fighting by Christ at the birth of this world? Instead of looking forward to an eternity of peace and joy, isn’t it true that we would see nothing but pain and agony? Instead, we have the words … Continue reading –>
Our memory text gives the first hymn: Hymn 232, “At the Name of Jesus”. The verses of the Psalms quoted by Ellen White in Desire of Ages page 20, on Sunday, are sung in: Hymn 111, “It Took a Miracle”. The creation theme is continued in: Hymn 640, “For Beauty of Meadows”. We give thanks to our … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: We were programmed for worship. But worshipping self, other people, or things does not bring satisfaction. Only the worship of the Creator brings a true sense of belonging and purpose. Lesson 3, January 20, 2018 1. Have a volunteer read Matthew 19:21-22. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the … Continue reading –>
As Christians, we believe that Jesus was fully God and fully human. This union of the Divine and humanity makes His perspective unique as to what is important on earth and important for eternity. That we can’t understand how He could have a divine/human nature doesn’t nullify this truth any more than someone’s lack of … Continue reading –>
Read Genesis 1:1; Psalm 33:6-9; Isaiah 45:11-12; Jeremiah 51:15; and John 1:3. What do these texts tell us about the goodness of the material world? “It was Christ that spread the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth. It was His hand that hung the worlds in space, and fashioned the flowers of the field. ‘His strength setteth fast … Continue reading –>
