While Paul is best known for his clear exposition of the gospel, his explanation of the great controversy is also crucial. In the midst of his teaching the Good News, he summarizes his main points: we have been “justified by faith” through Jesus (Rom. 5:1); we have direct access to God, and we “rejoice in … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Rom. 5:12-21, 1 Cor. 3:12-17, 1 Cor. 12:14-26, Eph. 6:11-17, 1 Cor. 15:12-18. Memory Text: “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory’” (1 Corinthians 15:54, NIV). Paul’s … Continue reading –>
When we allow the Bible to explain itself, God can use ordinary people to do great things. Years ago, when I worked on the sort isle at UPS, our supervisors would occasionally bring in food to eat, while we worked at four in the morning. One such time, my supervisor, who was also a Protestant … Continue reading –>
Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote about Jesus returning to the earth, but not as predicted in the Bible. Instead, in this made-up story, Jesus returned at the height of the Inquisition, when religious leaders used their power for evil. The Grand Inquisitor had Jesus, who came as a humble peasant, arrested and thrown in a … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “The Great Controversy and the Early Church” 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 … Continue reading –>
The disciples not only struggled with preconceived ideas that kept them from understanding what Jesus taught them, they also shared national prejudices. One example of this is the story of the Samaritan woman from whom Jesus asked a drink of water. The disciples were surprised that He even spoke to the woman (John 4:27) . … Continue reading –>
It’s called a do-over – a second chance to redeem a failure. The greater the failure, the greater the significance of achievement the second time around. We celebrate those who make the most of their do-overs. To see someone who has failed miserably yet, when again faced with that same situation, triumphs, gives us much encouragement. The … Continue reading –>
The disciples weren’t the only ones to be confronted by the religious establishment during the earliest days of the church. Stephen, who was filled with “faith and power, [and] did great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8, NKJV), was brought before them. His witness was so compelling, in fact, that his opponents manufactured … Continue reading –>
Read Acts 4:1-30. How is the great-controversy theme being manifest here? In what ways is this just one example of how it has played out all through history? How do we see Satan working here, and how do we see the Lord working, as well?“The priests and rulers saw that Christ was extolled above them. … Continue reading –>
Meeting about the Beginning. Why couldn’t Jesus’ disciples–His most loyal followers–understand what God’s immediate purpose was after His resurrection? Are you ever surprised by people who are too stubborn to listen to what Jesus wants to tell them? Were the Romans so oppressing to the Jewish people that getting rid of them was the only thing … Continue reading –>
For ten days the followers of Jesus prayed, evaluated their experiences with Jesus in the light of Scripture, showed humility and acceptance to each other, and finally allowed the Holy Spirit to impress the truth upon them. Just as the Spirit hovered over the face of the deep at the beginning of the Creation process, … Continue reading –>
After His resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days meeting with the disciples to confirm the resurrection and to help them better to understand the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3, 1 Cor. 15:4-7). However, even as they assembled, just before Jesus departed into the heavens, the thing uppermost in their minds was whether or not this was … Continue reading –>
