As the United States celebrates Black History month, I was thinking of my first black friend. While the phrase “My first black friend” probably sounds silly to a child of today, when I was a young kid in 1970 we lived in a white neighborhood in Tulsa, the city famous for the Race Riot of 1921. … Continue reading –>
Their works follow them, says Revelation 14:13 (NKJV) about the reward of the righteous. Only the future will testify to the real value of the individual. People may boast now of their wealth, their knowledge, their physical prowess, and maybe that is all true. But what does it mean in the sight of God? So … Continue reading –>
Read Proverbs 20:12. What does this teach us about the value of all humans? Unlike the theory of evolution, which considers us all to be nothing but chance products of a mindless cosmos, the Bible teaches that all humans were created by God (see also Acts 17:26). It is no accident, either, that Thomas Jefferson … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Proverbs 20:1-30; Cor. 12:14–26; Jer. 9:23-24; Proverbs 21:1-31; Matt. 25:35–40; Proverbs 22:1-29. Memory Text: Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man? (Proverbs 20:6, NKJV). To some degree (a great degree, actually), we are all products of our environment. Though heredity plays a big … Continue reading –>
My dog’s been shot! Brayden* blurted out in tears to his friend Payton. Would you speak at his funeral? Twelve-year-old Payton had never conducted a funeral, but wanting to help his friend, he agreed to do what he could. I planned the whole thing out, he said. The dog is buried in my yard–Brayden and … Continue reading –>
Further Study: The spirit of gossip and talebearing is one of Satan’s special agencies to sow discord and strife, to separate friends, and to undermine the faith of many in the truthfulness of our positions. Brethren and sisters are too ready to talk of the faults and errors that they think exist in others, and … Continue reading –>
This week’s lesson on Dealing With Fights describes why Sam no longer wants to attend organized church. It’s not that Sam is not interested in God, Jesus and heaven. Quite the contrary. However, in this age of hyper sensitivity and the “take-no-prisoners” approach to life Sam sees in church, he reads this week’s memory text and it speaks to … Continue reading –>
A king needed to appoint a new minister for the highest office of his kingdom. For this purpose, he organized a special contest on lying: who could utter the biggest lie. All his ministers applied, and each one came and spoke their biggest lie. But the king was not satisfied; their lies seemed lame. The … Continue reading –>
A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle. Proverbs 18:19 NKJ This text highlights the issue that conflicts with friends and within church communities are hard and often a cause for division and even separation. In my personal time with God, I am … Continue reading –>
[Thought Questions for Dealing with Fights February 10, 2015] 1. Introduction. What’s that? Fights among God’s people? Or fights by evil people that can do us damage? Let’s take a look in this week’s lesson about dealing with fights. Have you ever witnessed a snappy, angry exchange between two people who should care for each other? … Continue reading –>
Read Proverbs 18:2. Why don’t fools need time to form their opinions? Fools are so sure of themselves and so eager to express their own opinions that they are not interested in learning from others. Their closed minds go along with their open mouths. This is a deadly combination. How careful we need to be … Continue reading –>
Key Thought : Human relations are built on words. Angry words of contention and lies indicate a broken relationship. Gracious words of truth and encouragement indicate a growing relationship. [Lesson Plan Dealing With Fights February 9, 2015] 1. Have a volunteer read Proverbs 17:4-7. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most … Continue reading –>
