When Jesus called the first disciples on the shores of Galilee, they had already witnessed His power over evil. They had seen Him challenge demons (Luke 4:34-36), heal the sick (Luke 4:38-41), rule over nature (Luke 5:4-6), reveal sin and then reassure Peter there was no need to fear (Luke 5:10). Some time later, after … Continue reading –>
Memory Text: “And they said to one another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?’” Who is talking in this text? Why is there such a sense of amazement about Jesus’ power of speaking? Satan couldn’t force Jesus to … Continue reading –>
When one considers the incredible issue at stake in the great controversy, it’s amazing that Jesus would use human beings to aid Him in ministry, especially those as flawed as the ones He chose. Of course, if we consider the state of fallen humanity, no one He chose would have been without moral defects, anyway. … Continue reading –>
A Buddhist form of meditation called “mindfulness meditation” has taken the mental health field by storm. It has produced many well-documented positive effects and has been basically touted as a panacea for most psychological ills. In terms of popularity and buzz, mindfulness is to mental health what organic coconut water is to physical health—a somewhat … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Luke 5:6-8, Luke 5:11; Mark 3:14; Matt. 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Mark 9:33-37; Matt. 20:20-28. Memory Text: “And they said to one another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?’”(Luke 24:32, NKJV). From the earliest … Continue reading –>
Several years ago I was flying from Fort Worth Texas to go home to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the Thanksgiving holiday. It was a short flight and I was on a commuter plane. Upon landing, instead of pulling up to the terminal like the big jets, we were let out on the tarmac. I went up … Continue reading –>
Author Leon Wieseltier wrote about what he said was “one of the saddest stories in the world.” He told of an Englishman, named “S.B.,” who had been blind from birth. However, the good news was that, at 52 years old, S.B. had a corneal transplant that gave him sight. For the first time in his … Continue reading –>
Matthew ends his Gospel account with some of the most reassuring words Jesus spoke: “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20). What should that mean to us, in practical terms, in our own lives, in our own struggles, failures, and disappointments, and even when we feel that God … Continue reading –>
Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount in the early days of His ministry. It was revolutionary. For starters, He told ordinary people that they were valued and blessed in the eyes of God (Matt. 5:3-12) and that they were salt (Matt. 5:13) and light (Matt. 5:14-16)-two highly prized commodities. He spoke of the importance … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “Jesus’ Teaching on the Great Controversy” 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 … Continue reading –>
“I will give you rest.” How does the “great controversy” play out in your life? Do you ever feel tired of the fight and even tempted to give up as you continue to confront the evil one with his big bag of temptations? What is “great” about the controversy between Christ and Satan? “Great” as in wondrous … Continue reading –>
The issue of where we stand in the cosmic struggle that unfolds around us is made very personal in the parable of the man building a house on the rock. Read Matthew 7:21-27. What is so frightening about this parable? What comes to mind when you imagine this story? Where is the rock and where … Continue reading –>
