Shane Claiborne’s clever book title says it all. But Jesus tried that. He was President, King, and Head of State of Israel from the time of the Exodusuntil the Babylonian captivity. And in spite of His power and perfection, His presidential experiment failed. Sadly, Israel and Judah so totally rebelled against Him that He ultimately … Continue reading –>
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,” James 1:2 Have you ever considered how completely foreign that philosophy is to pretty much every other way of thinking on the planet these days? Most folks spend considerable time and money to avoid any kind of trial. Our lives (in the United … Continue reading –>
“‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’ The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’” Luke 10:36-37, NIV In the popular media, most problems seem to be solved by some … Continue reading –>
Key Thought : The weakest soul will be victorious as they seek God’s power to overcome temptation through faith. [Teaching plan for Victory Over Evil Forces November 5, 2012] 1. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 1:18-23. A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is. B. … Continue reading –>
Read James 4:7. What clear promise is given to the one who stands against the devil? How does one stand against a force so much more powerful than we are, in and of ourselves? See also Deut. 4:4. The Christian is not a helpless victim, at the mercy of the devil (can you see here, too, why it’s … Continue reading –>
Facebook now lets you label all your friends and place them in categories. I can label them, family, close friends, just friends and even acquaintances, if I don’t think they quite measure up to friend. You have more control and power over your Facebook world than you do the real world. On Facebook you can … Continue reading –>
Not only is the stage set for the possibility of the Christian’s victory over evil forces, the Bible explicitly gives us the hope of victory over them. Study Romans 8:26-39. What point is Paul trying to make here? What reasons does Paul give for the Christian to look confidently to the future? Look at all the … Continue reading –>
The Christian would have no hope of victory over the forces of evil unless the stage was set for it. In last week’s study it became clear that Christ, through His death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave, gained victory over all sorts of evil and anti-godly “powers.” In a very real … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Eph. 1:18-22, Rom. 8:26-39, James 4:7, 1 Pet. 5:6-10,Luke 10:1-20, Acts 5:12-16. Memory Text: “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37, NKJV). Key Thought: In Christ, we have victory over all forces that would oppress us. In some parts of the world, religion is basically a source of … Continue reading –>
Read Ellen G. White, The Book of Books, p. 136, in Fundamentals of Christian Education; Spiritualism, pp. 394, 395, in The Story of Redemption; Agency of Evil Spirits, pp. 511-517, in The Great Controversy. “A battle unseen by human eyes is being waged. The army of the Lord is on the ground, seeking to save souls. Satan and his host are … Continue reading –>
A boy stood on the bank of a lake tossing bread crumbs into the water. Small minnows and larger fish came to the surface to grab the crumbs. I thought of Ecclesiastes 11:1 which says, “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again” (NIV). The Church’s radio and television ministries … Continue reading –>
“He also said, ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel … Continue reading –>
