Sometimes a church will have community service outreach programs in areas of health, family, personal finance, conflict management, et cetera, and might ask: What is the bridge to bring them to the “Follow Me” stage? We rather should ask, Who is the bridge? Answer: You are! “The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is … Continue reading –>
Read Luke 19:10, Mark 1:17, Luke 9:2, and Revelation 14:6-7. What is one key point that all these texts have in common? That is, what are they telling us to do? For years a Seventh-day Adventist congregation prayed, “Lord, please draw the people in our community to our church and to You”-as if our church … Continue reading –>
Read John 10:1-5, John 10:16. How do these texts illustrate the importance of why we, as Jesus’ representatives, must form positive and loving relationships with people in our communities as we seek to lead them to Jesus? How can we help them learn to hear His voice? The whisper of a friend is more powerful … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: John 10:1-5, John 10:16; Luke 9:2; Rev. 14:6-7; Luke 19:1-10; Acts 26:11-27; Rev. 3:20. Memory Text: “ ‘But they [the sheep] will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice’ ” (John 10:5, NIV). In A.D. 362 Roman … Continue reading –>
Read Mark 5:18-20; Luke 8:38-39; Acts 5:12-16. Read Ellen G. White, “Our Example,” pp. 17-28, in The Ministry of Healing; “The Grace of Courtesy,” pp. 236-240, in Selected Messages, book 3 (especially pp. 238, 239); “Blessing the Children,” pp. 511-517, in The Desire of Ages; “Relieve the Oppressed,” p. 242, in My Life Today. There … Continue reading –>
Back in the ’80s I was invited to preach in a church in Northern Oklahoma. I arrived in time for Sabbath school, and heard the Sabbath School superintendent talking about how everyone should be friendly, and if we have guests, invite them home for lunch. I thought how nice! After my sermon, as I was greeting people … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: God has called us to play our part in mingling, showing sympathy, and ministering to needs in an attitude of love. Jesus Won Their Confidence – September 3, 2016 1. Have a volunteer read I Corinthians 3:1-5. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text … Continue reading –>
“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’” – Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 143. For many years … Continue reading –>
There’s no question that we, as a people, have been blessed with so much light from the Lord. This light isn’t just in theology, such as understanding the Cross, the sanctuary, the state of the dead, the Sabbath, and the great controversy, which are great blessings in and of themselves. When we think about the … Continue reading –>
Winning Confidence. [Lesson 10 for September 3] What type of confidence winning do you see most? (1) a Spirit-led first step to making friends for Jesus; (2) A Satan-driven attempt to feel good following his ways. Wait a minute. Can winning someone’s confidence be bad as well as good? Explain. Can churches and belief systems exist … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “Jesus Won Their Confidence” 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 … Continue reading –>
Churches are largely volunteer groups, which operate on limited budgets. Social capital helps improve the chance that your church can reach significant goals. The old tradition in some countries of farmers helping other farmers bring in their harvest is an example of social capital. That is, though we need to look at each situation on … Continue reading –>
