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 –>
“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold” (Prov. 22:1, NIV). How does the concept expressed here relate to our community witness and outreach? What is “social capital”? When you make investments in a bank account, its value grows. Social capital consists of positive, productive … Continue reading –>
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in an African country is growing rapidly. What is the secret? Church leaders have stated that there is a strong connection between this growth and the unselfish and unconditional service of the church members to people in communities throughout the country. The widespread confidence in the Seventh-day Adventist Church came to … Continue reading –>
After desiring their good, showing sympathy, and ministering to their needs, Jesus “won their confidence.” Confidence in Latin is composed of the words con,meaning “with,” and fides meaning “faith.” Throughout the Bible several words are employed to get across the meaning of the word faith. In Hebrew the main root for “faith” is amn, from … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Gen. 15:6, Num. 14:11, 1 Cor. 3:1-9, Dan. 6:1-3, Neh. 2:1-9, Deut. 4:1-9, Acts 2:42-47. Memory Text: “But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities” (Luke 5:15, ESV). For several years, a Seventh-day Adventist … Continue reading –>
Read Deuteronomy 15:11, Job 29:11-17, Proverbs 14:31, Proverbs 19:17, Acts 3:6, James 1:27-2:5; Ellen G. White, “Pioneering in Australia,” pp. 327-338, in Welfare Ministry. Paul, like Jesus, was involved in meeting the expressed needs of people. We can see this, for example, in the famous story of Paul at Mars Hill in Athens. In Acts … Continue reading –>
