An honest heart. What is it? “But on the good ground, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). Honesty, your lesson states, is something we have to learn. It doesn’t come naturally. What is one tremendous benefit of being honest at … Continue reading –>
As we saw yesterday, faith is a process, a dynamic experience that, ideally, grows and matures. And one way God is “finishing” our faith and bringing it to completeness is through the act of tithing. Rightly understood, tithe returned to God is not legalism; when we tithe we are not working or seeking to earn … Continue reading –>
The question is asked on Tuesday’s section of this week’s lesson, “In what ways have you discovered for yourself the true spiritual blessings that come from paying tithe? How has paying tithe helped increase your faith?” After returning home to Tulsa from Southern Adventist University, I got a job at Taco Bell, and at 19 … Continue reading –>
Our memory text, Luke 8:15 prompts us to have “an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience”, sing: Hymn 639, “A Diligent and Grateful Heart” and Hymn 27, “Rejoice Ye Pure in Heart!”. The titles of Monday and Tuesday’s studies give us the key word ‘Faith’: Hymn 517, “My Faith Looks Up to … Continue reading –>
Read Genesis 22:1-12. What does this story tell us about the reality of Abraham’s faith? The life of faith is not a one-time event. We don’t just express faith in a powerful way one time, and thus prove that we are, indeed, loyal and faithful Christians living by grace and covered by the blood of Christ. … Continue reading –>
One thing most of us have in common is that we do not like dishonesty. We especially do not like it when we see it manifested in others. It’s not easy, though, to see it in ourselves, and when we do, we tend to rationalize our actions, to justify them, to downplay their significance: Oh, it’s … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Luke 16:10, Lev. 27:30, Gen. 22:1-12, Heb. 12:2, Luke 11:42, Heb. 7:2-10, Nehemiah 13. Memory Text: “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). What is an honest heart, and how is it revealed? Contemporary culture often … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Another mark of a good steward is individual accountability. “It has ever been the design of Satan to draw the minds of the people from Jesus to man, and to destroy individual accountability. Satan failed in his design when he tempted the Son of God; but he succeeded better when he came to fallen … Continue reading –>
Read Luke 16:10-12. What does this teach us about being trustworthy? Why is this trait so important for a faithful steward? This principle of trustworthiness is seen all through the Bible. For example, in one story four chief Levite gatekeepers were entrusted to protect the Old Testament sanctuary at night. They were to guard the rooms … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Real stewardship forms the basis for purpose, success, meaning, and a sense of belonging. Lesson 6, February 10, 2018 1. Have a volunteer read Hebrews 11:8-12. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is. b. In what ways could we be loyal to … Continue reading –>
Abel obediently knelt at his altar, holding the lamb offering as God commanded. Cain, on the other hand, furiously knelt at his altar holding the fruit. Both brought offerings, yet only one brother had been obedient to God’s command. The slain lamb was accepted, but the produce from the ground was rejected. Both brothers understood … Continue reading –>
Faithfulness. Whenever you have opportunity to hold to what is right, how does your decision to do what God says help you fight–and win–the “good fight of faith”? Have you ever been tempted to do “what comes naturally” rather than what you know God wants you to do? How are concepts of “trust” and “faithfulness” … Continue reading –>
