What does it mean to keep oneself unspotted from the world? (James 1:27, NKJV). How could that even be possible? See also 1 John 2:15-16; 2 Pet. 1:4. Some people seem to think that if only they could move far enough away from the world, they could avoid most of its temptations. Though there’s some … Continue reading –>
[Thought Questions for Being and Doing October 21, 2014] 1. It’s not enough to be able to see and hear. Do you think it would be harder to follow Jesus if you were deaf? or blind? Didn’t have much intellectual understanding? Does a thorough knowledge of God and His plan of salvation earn you a place in His eternal kingdom? What did the … Continue reading –>
Read James 1:26-27 and compare it to Matthew 25:35, Matt. 25:36, Matt.25:40 and Romans 12:9-18. In light of these passages, how would you define true Christianity? If Jesus, James, and Paul emphasize anything, it is the importance of being a useful Christian. By lovingthe least of these (Matt. 25:40), by taking the time to visit … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: When we are saved by grace, we will be doers of God’s Word, because we have placed our faith in Him. He leads us to become new in the Spirit. [Lesson Plan for Being and Doing October 20, 2014] 1. Have a volunteer read James 1:22-24. a. Ask class members to share a thought … Continue reading –>
Read James 1:25. What does he say about the role of the law? James echoes the Psalms in calling God’s law perfect (Ps. 19:7) and a way of freedom (Ps. 119:45). But notice that the law in James cannot save us and certainly cannot cleanse us. It shows us God’s ideal, but it cannot make … Continue reading –>
Read James 1:22 again. The Greek says to be doers of the Word. How might the message have been different had James simply said, Do the word? James combines being and doing. He does not separate them, nor does he make one more important than the other. They are like two sides of the same … Continue reading –>
Someone once said this about his enemy: I see him every day-when I’m shaving. This is exactly what James wants us to recognize: our greatest enemy is ourselves. Salvation begins by seeing who we really are, not who we imagine ourselves to be. Read James 1:23-24. Who is described here, and what is the basic … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: James 1:23-24; Matt. 19:16-22; Luke 6:27-38; Rom. 8:2-4; Rom. 12:9-18; 2 Pet. 1:4. Memory Text: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves (James 1:22). Jean Francois Gravelet, better known as The Great Blondin, became famous for walking across Niagara Falls on a tightrope. … Continue reading –>
Juan Caicedo Solis The demons in Mirella struggled against the family members who took her to the Adventist church. During the struggle Mirella fainted. When the family tried to carry her limp body through the church door, they could feel a powerful force pushing them away. Inside the church the congregation prayed while deacons tried … Continue reading –>
Further Study: Read about sin and the power to change in Ellen G. White, Repentance, Steps to Christ, pp. 23-36 and summarize the key points. The plan of redemption contemplates our complete recovery from the power of Satan. Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin. He came to destroy the works of the devil, … Continue reading –>
One day at work many years ago, my boss crossed the line and really upset me. I felt I was being pressured beyond what I could endure. I was about to march into my boss’s office and spew out a series of un-Christlike words. Not that it is wrong to confront your boss when he … Continue reading –>
For the last two weeks I have been engaged in a war of wills with a family of squirrels. Those cute little creatures always scampering about my yard had now become my opponents. Unbeknownst to me these creatures had taken up residence in my house. My wife had suggested some time ago that there could … Continue reading –>
